Security light with lifestyle solutions

ABSTRACT

A lifestyle lighting solution using microcontroller technology for controlling nighttime illumination is disclosed wherein the night time illumination is divided into two stages with the first stage being a full power illumination for a preset time period and the second stage being an energy saving/security illumination. The time period of the first stage full power illumination is managed by a virtual timer which is programmable and dynamically variable according to the home owners&#39; living habits and needs. The second stage energy saving illumination with four options is produced by different combinations of dimming techniques and motion sensor. The lifestyle illumination also using microcontroller technology to replace the function of photo cell enables the users to manage their time table of home lighting performance for both indoor and outdoor application. The present invention provides home owners possibility to choose among different working modes integrated in a single lighting device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a management technology for operatinglighting devices; in particular to some humanized techniques to performa programmable delay time management and the application thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

The use of motion sensor to enable a lamp to perform a transientillumination is a well-known technology. Generally, there are twopurposes for the need of a transient illumination by using a motionsensor. The first purpose is for energy saving wherein the light sourceis enabled only when the user enters the detection zone. The secondpurpose is for threatening intruders by using an instant extremevariation of luminance to achieve the objective of security guard. Thedrawback of the lighting device with the above-mentioned motion sensoris that the lighting device would keep in inactivated state and theenvironment would be dark when user is not in the detection range of themotion sensor. User is therefore not able to recognize the direction orthe location of destination. In order to overcome the above-mentioneddrawbacks, a lighting device with a motion sensor to perform two-levellighting was invented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,937 which enables a lamp toperform a low level illumination at nightfall and when a person or ananimal enters the sensing range of the motion sensor the lamp isinstantly activated to perform a high level illumination. Thus, when theuser is outside the detection range, he or she can still see the ambientlow level illumination to get a sense of direction or location ofdestination. Furthermore, a two-level security lighting device providinga timed illumination was invented in U.S. Pat. No. 7,339,471 B1 whichenables a lamp at the onset of nightfall to perform an accentillumination for a time period and the lamp is illuminated at increasedbrightness when activated by a motion sensor, wherein the time length ofthe accent illumination can be automatically adjusted for differentnighttimes due to seasonal effect when the lighting device is operatedunder a solar tracking mode.

The aforementioned two-level security lighting devices are a compromisedsolution between illumination need and security function throughout thenight time. As a matter of fact and from the perspective of lifestyleliving, the two-level security lamps in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,747,937 and7,339,471 B1 have ignored the different needs of illumination versussecurity function along the time frame during the night period. In earlyevening the general illumination is more needed than the securityfunction, while in late evening the security function is more neededthan the general illumination. The present invention is designed tooffer an improvement over the drawback of the aforementioned two-levelsolutions, such that the lamp works as a general flood light with fullillumination capacity for a preset time period in early evening whenpeople are active before it is converted to a motion sensor activatedsecurity lighting in late evening when people are ready to go sleeping.Such hybrid configuration offers many choices of lifestyle lightingswhich optimizes the functional utilization of a lighting device for bothgeneral illumination and security guard during the course of nighttimeperiod. This life style lighting solution would become even moremeaningful with the increasing popularity of the LED bulbs whichconsumes very low energy at full-power illumination in early eveningtime and also serves perfectly as a security light to warn intruders inlate evening time. Consumers will be pleased to see their outdoor spacefully illuminated at low energy cost in the early evening time whileenjoy or show off the beautiful and romantic scenery of their houses andlandscapes. It is rather interesting to compare the present inventionwith LED bulbs to the two-level halogen security lamp per U.S. Pat. No.5,747,937 which when operating at low level still consumes as much as 35watts to 40 watts while our present invention consumes only 10 watts to15 watts even at full-power illumination for the time period of earlyevening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide house owners alifestyle lighting solution catering to their living habits. In thepresent invention a lighting device is provided, wherein the nighttimeillumination of the lighting device is divided into two stages, with thefirst stage being a full-power illumination and the second stage being apower-saving/security illumination. The time point that the lightingdevice is changed from a full-power illumination to a power-savingillumination is the conversion time point, and such a conversion timepoint is creatively and uniquely designed to be programmable by theusers according to their living needs. The technology also offersselection of different time periods for performing the full-powerillumination before the lighting device being converted to thepower-saving/security illumination.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, according to anembodiment of the present invention, a lighting device is provided whichhas two working modes selectable by the user, wherein the first workingmode is a dusk-dawn mode, in which the lighting device is automaticallyturned on at dusk with a full-power illumination, and the same highlevel illumination continues until the lighting device is automaticallyturned off at dawn; wherein the second working mode is a lifestyle mode,in which the lighting device is automatically turned on at dusk toperform a full-power illumination for a preset time period and at aconversion time point the lighting device is switched from thefull-power illumination to perform a power-saving illumination untildaybreak. The time length of the preset time period is dependent on theconversion time point which is variable or programmable by appropriatemeans according to the user's need.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting deviceis constructed at least with a photo sensor, a motion sensor and amicrocontroller such that the lighting device is automatically turned onat dusk and turned off at dawn by the photo sensor, wherein during thecourse of nighttime the lighting device performs two stages ofillumination controlled by the microcontroller in such a manner that atimer embedded in the microcontroller is configured to set a conversiontime point and to control a full-power illumination for a desired presettime period before being converted to a power-saving and securityillumination in response to the motion sensor.

The present invention discloses a lifestyle lighting solution byconfiguring a timer in the microcontroller with at least three methodsto set the conversion time point, which are:

(1) the anytime setting, in which the user selects a conversion timepoint for the lighting device by giving a trigger signal to themicrocontroller, wherein the microcontroller recognizes the triggersignal and reacts at the moment of the selected time point by promptlyconverting the light performance from the full-power illumination to apower-saving or security illumination, and at the same time stores thisselected time point in its memory for repetitive performance at thisselected conversion time point on a daily basis until another triggersignal being given by the user to change the timer configuration;

(2) the fixed time point setting, in which the timer of themicrocontroller is programmed to be capable of tracing the nighttimeshift due to seasonal effect wherein the timer of the microcontrollerdynamically controls the duration of the full-power illumination so thatthe lighting device can switch by itself at a fixed time point from thefull-power illumination to a power-saving or security illumination;

(3) the fixed time period setting, in which the timer has a fixed timecount so that the lighting device illuminates with full power for aconstant time period before being converted to a power-saving orsecurity illumination.

When the timer is configured by the fixed time point setting, themicrocontroller with its program codes performs an automatic time shiftdetection to measure the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn so as todynamically adjust the time length of the preset time period forperforming full-power illumination. Consequently, when the timer isconfigured to be compliant with seasonal time shift, the conversion timepoint is fixed to counteract the seasonal daytime variation. Theadvantage of the present invention is obvious. For instance, if inautumn season with sunset at 6 p.m., a house owner selects a three-hourperiod for performing a full-power illumination in early evening, thelighting device will be converted to a power-saving or securityillumination year round at 9 a.m. which is a fixed conversion time pointwithout being affected by the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn. Inthe absence of such an automatic capability to detect seasonal timeshift and when in winter season, the lighting device will beautomatically turned on at around 4:30 p.m. (sunset time) and then beconverted to a power-saving illumination at 7:30 p.m. which is too earlyaccording to our living habit. This automatic adjustment of the timeperiod in performing full-power illumination also works well in extremeplaces like Greenland or Iceland.

The present invention discloses a security lighting device whichprovides at least the following variations to perform the second stageor security illumination after the conversion time point, which are:

(1) Complete cutoff; the lighting device is turned off completely at theconversion time point through the rest of nighttime and at dawn thelighting device is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitive performance.Thus, at dusk the lighting device is again turned on automatically toperform a full-power illumination for a preset time period and at thesame conversion time point is again turned off completely accordingly.

(2) Low level illumination; the lighting device is switched to a lowlevel illumination throughout the rest of nighttime. At dawn thelighting device is turned off and reset to enter a new cycle ofrepetitive performance. Thus, at dusk the lighting device is againautomatically turned on to perform a full-power illumination andcontinues until reaching the same conversion time point at which thelighting device is switched to a low level illumination accordingly.

(3) Complete cutoff coupled with motion sensor activated illumination;the lighting device is switched to complete cutoff at the conversiontime point and at the same time enters a standby status to await thedetection signal from the motion sensor. When a body motion is detected,the motion sensor activates the lighting device to perform a full-powerillumination only for a short time period until the motion detectionsignal disappears. At dawn the lighting device is reset to enter a newcycle of repetitive performance. Thus, at dusk the lighting device isautomatically turned on and continues until reaching the conversion timepoint at which the lighting device is switched to complete cutoff andenters a standby status to await the detection signal from the motionsensor accordingly.

(4) Low level illumination coupled with motion sensor activatedillumination; at the conversion time point the lighting device isswitched to a low level illumination and at the same time enters astandby status to await the detection signal from the motion sensor.Whenever a body motion is detected, the motion sensor activates thelighting device to perform a full-power illumination only for a shorttime period until the motion detection signal disappears. At dawn thelighting device is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitive performance.Thus, at dusk the lighting device is automatically turned on for afull-power illumination and continues until reaching the conversion timepoint at which the lighting device is switched to a low levelillumination and enters a standby status to await the detection signalfrom the motion sensor accordingly.

To make the lighting device of the present invention even more userfriendly, the present invention also provides home owners additionalsolution of being able to choose different working modes designed in atdifferent time or on different occasions. For example, in a multi-modelighting device wherein two or three working modes are built into onesingle lighting device using the microcontroller technology, the usercan select one of the multi-modes for performance by using a controlsignal to alternately change the working mode or using control signalsof different format and different binary patterns to activatecorresponding working modes. The multi-modes always includes a basicdusk-dawn mode and the above mentioned lifestyle security modes foruser's selection.

The present invention further provides a lighting device constructedwith a motion sensor and a microcontroller such that instead of using aphoto sensor the lighting device is automatically turned on at dusk andturned off at dawn by the program codes of the microcontroller, whereinduring the course of nighttime the lighting device has at least twoworking modes selectable by the users. In order to perform theaforementioned lifestyle mode without using photo sensor, the user takesan initial setting process to input at least three time parameters tothe microcontroller, namely a first preset time point to turn on thelighting device for a full-power illumination, a second preset timepoint to convert to power-saving/security illumination which beingcoupled with the motion sensor and a third preset time point to turn offthe lighting device and at the same time to reset the microcontrollerfor the next 24 hours performance cycle. Such lifestyle mode withoutreliance on a photo sensor enables the users to manage their time tableof lighting performance for both indoor and outdoor applications.

The light sources of the present invention can be incandescent lamps,fluorescent lamps, AC LED modules or DC LED bulbs. According to theembodiments of the present invention, the two-level illuminationperformance can be achieved either by dimming a single light source loador by using a double-load construction with a low-wattage and ahigh-wattage light source load such that the high-wattage light sourceload is always activated by the motion sensor and the low-wattage lightsource load is automatically turned on and off with or without the photosensor. The lighting device with lifestyle illumination management istherefore different from the dusk to dawn lighting devices and thetraditional motion sensor activated security lighting apparatuses. Thepresent invention offers a versatile solution to users to manage theirnight illumination according to their life styles and living habits.

To sum up, the lighting device with programmable timer technology todynamically control full-power illumination and power-savingillumination provided in an embodiment of the present inventionintegrates multi luminance functions into one single constructionwithout resorting to complex hardware, wherein design concept withhumanized considerations is adopted.

In order to further the understanding regarding the present invention,the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations tofacilitate the disclosure of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a block diagram depicting the operationprinciple of the lifestyle lighting device according to variousembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting the lightingdevice to perform lifestyle lighting by controlling relays to transmitelectric power to two light source loads according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting the lightingdevice to perform lifestyle lighting by controlling the conduction stateof a unidirectional controllable switching unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a schematically shows a PWM signal for controlling the conductionstate of the unidirectional controllable switching unit in the circuitdiagram of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting the lightingdevice to perform lifestyle lighting by controlling the conduction stateof a bidirectional controllable switching unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 a, FIG. 4 b and FIG. 4 c schematically show voltage signals forcontrolling the conduction state of the bidirectional controllableswitching unit and the AC electric power transmitting to a light sourceload in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting a variation inconstruction of a lighting device with lifestyle solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions areexemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the presentinvention. Other objectives and advantages related to the presentinvention will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions andappended drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram depicting the operation principle of alifestyle lighting device according to various embodiments of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a lighting device 1 of thepresent invention is composed basically of a controller unit 2,functional selection switches S1-S4 and sensor elements 3, 4, togetherwith light source loads and electric power unit not depicted here. As abasic operation, a lighting device 1 is enabled at dusk and disabled atdawn by using a photo sensor (CDS) 3 to detect daylight and to controlelectric power supply to the lighting device 1. This basic operation isreferred to as dusk-dawn mode. According to FIG. 1, the lighting device1 includes a dusk-dawn mode and a lifestyle mode, wherein a modeselection switch S1 is provided in the lighting device 1 to choosedifferent operation mode.

When operating S1 to select the dusk-dawn mode, the lighting device 1 isturned on automatically at dusk to perform a full-power illuminationcontrolled by the controller unit 2, and the same high levelillumination continues until the lighting device 1 is automaticallyturned off at dawn, and the lighting device 1 is reset to enter a newoperation cycle on a daily basis; by operating S1 to select thelifestyle mode, the lighting device 1 is turned on automatically at duskto perform a full-power illumination for a preset time period untilreaching a conversion time point, at which the lighting device 1 isconverted to a power-saving or security illumination controlled by thecontroller unit 2, and the security illumination continues until thelighting device 1 is automatically turned off at dawn, and the lightingdevice 1 is reset to enter a new operation cycle on a daily basis.

The lifestyle mode is characterized by a full-power illumination lastingfor a preset time period which is measured between the turn-on timepoint of the lighting device at dusk and the conversion time pointcontrolled by a virtual timer in the controller unit 2. Referring toFIG. 1, a functional switch S2 is provided in the lighting device 1 inorder to set the conversion time point or the preset time period by atleast three methods, which are: (1) the anytime setting, for selectingan arbitrary conversion time point by the user; (2) the fixed time pointsetting, for enabling the lighting device 1 to have a conversion timepoint without being affected by seasonal effect; and (3) the fixed timeperiod setting, for selecting a constant time period. More detailsregarding each setting method will be described later with the help ofcircuit diagrams. In short, the illumination performance of thelifestyle lighting device 1 during the course of nighttime is divided bya conversion time point into two stages, with the first stage being afull-power illumination and the second stage being a power-saving orsecurity illumination controlled by the controller unit 2. Theconversion time point which is dynamically variable or programmableaccording to the user's demand is the key technology for the lifestylelighting solutions.

The lighting device 1 furthermore provides four options for the secondstage power-saving or security illumination in order to extend itsutility. As depicted in FIG. 1, a functional switch S3 is introduced forthis purpose. The lighting device 1 can perform at the second stage withone of the two illumination types selectable by operating a functionalswitch S3, which are:

(1) Complete cutoff (0), wherein at the conversion time point thelighting device 1 is turned off completely through the rest ofnighttime. At dawn, the lighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycleof repetitive performance;(2) Low level illumination (L), wherein at the conversion time point thelighting device 1 is switched to perform a low level illumination,generally at 30% or less of the full-power illumination. The low levelillumination continues through the rest of nighttime. At dawn, thelighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitiveperformance.

Moreover, referring to FIG. 1, a functional switch S4 is connected to amotion sensor 4. When the switch S4 is short-circuited, the motionsensor 4 is coupled to the controller unit 2 and the lighting device 1can perform at the second stage with one of the other two illuminationtypes selectable by operating the switch S3 as depicted in FIG. 1, whichare:

(3) Complete cutoff coupled with motion sensor activated illumination(H,0), wherein the lighting device 1 is turned off completely at theconversion time point and at the same time enters a standby status toawait the detection signal from the motion sensor 4. When a body motionis detected, the lighting device 1 reacts by changing its illuminationfrom off-state (0) to a full-power illumination (H) for a short timeperiod and then returns to the standby status with a complete off state.This illumination type is also referred to as a motion sensor activatedsingle-level illumination which continues until dawn. At dawn, thelighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitiveperformance;(4) Low level coupled with motion sensor activated illumination (H,L),wherein at the conversion time point the lighting device 1 is switchedto perform a low level illumination, generally at 30% or less of thefull-power illumination, and at the same time enters a standby status toawait the detection signal from the motion sensor 4. When a body motionis detected, the lighting device 1 reacts by changing its performancefrom a low level illumination (L) to a full-power illumination (H) for ashort time period and then returns to the standby status with a lowlevel illumination. This illumination type is also referred to as amotion sensor activated two-level illumination which continues untildawn. At dawn, the lighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycle ofrepetitive performance.

Based on the operation principle depicted in FIG. 1, the lighting device1 of the present invention has three variations in time period settingfor performing the full-power illumination and four variations inillumination types of the power-saving or security illumination. Thelighting device 1 offers therefore twelve different combinations oflifestyle lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor applications. Itprovides flexibility for designing lifestyle solutions by combining anappropriate numbers of the aforementioned variations into a lightingdevice. For instance, a lighting device can be so constructed without aphoto sensor such that it is turned on manually by operating a wallswitch, performs at the first stage a full-power illumination for afixed time period and then at the second stage a motion sensor activatedsingle-level illumination.

Referring to FIG. 1, according to various embodiments of the presentinvention, the operation of the lighting device 1 is automaticallyconducted by the controller unit 2 in response to the sensor elements3,4 to perform a lifestyle illumination which is divided into two stagesduring the course of entire nighttime. The controller unit 2 isresponsible for a lifestyle solution wherein parameters for differenttimed illuminations are preset and programmed through the functionalselection switches S1-S4 which are also referred to as external controlunits or external control means. In practice, the controller unit 2 hasan internal timer circuit to perform different timed illuminations. Theexternal control units S1-S4 can be constructed in form of electronic ormechanical means to generate external control signals to performfunction selection or timer setting for the controller unit's operation,wherein the external control signals can be in form of constant voltageor a binary voltage signal with a low and a high voltage recognizable bythe controller unit 2 to change the working mode or to activatecorresponding timer circuit setting.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows schematically a circuitdiagram for technically implementing a lighting device 1 according toFIG. 1 of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, aconventional AC/DC converter generates a DC voltage VDD as the workingvoltage for the lighting device 10. A photo sensor CDS 3 is provided todetect daylight and to control the supply of VDD to the lighting device10. In the daytime, because the photo sensor 3 has a small resistance,the NMOS transistor M3 is turned off and simultaneously the PMOStransistor M4 is turned off completely to prohibit supplying VDD to thelighting device 10. In the nighttime, because the photo sensor 3 has alarge resistance, the NMOS transistor M3 is turned on and simultaneouslythe PMOS transistor M4 is turned on heavily to supply VDD to thelighting device 10. Therefore, the lighting device 10 is automaticallyenabled at dusk and disabled at dawn by the photo sensor 3. At dusk thelighting devices 10 begins to work. Referring to FIG. 2, the lightingdevice 10 has a microcontroller 22 as the controller unit 2 to controlthe electric conduction state of the relay modules 5 a, 5 b fortransmitting electric power to the light source loads 6 a, 6 b,respectively. The microcontroller 22 incorporating with a photo sensor 3and a motion sensor 4 controls the illumination of the light sourceloads 6 a, 6 b to perform one of two working modes, which are dusk-dawnmode and lifestyle mode. In the lifestyle mode the microcontroller 22performs illumination divided into two stages according to propersettings of a delay timer in the microcontroller.

In the following, the description is referred to the lighting device 10being enabled by the photo sensor 3 through the entire nighttime.Referring to FIG. 2, the microcontroller 22 has the connection pinsP0.0-P5.4 as input and output ports respectively to receive externalcontrol signals from the external control means S21-S25 and to delivercontrol voltages to a controllable switching unit consisting of therelay modules 5 a, 5 b to transmit electric power to the light sourceloads 6 a, 6 b.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the working mode selection isdone by operating the external control means S21 which, for instance, isa toggle switch with one end connected to the ground and with anotherend via a resistor connected to VDD and also connected directly with thepin P1.2 of the microcontroller 22. By short-circuiting S21 a zerovoltage signal appears at P1.2, otherwise the pin P1.2 is held at a highvoltage. The microcontroller 22 with its program codes scans constantlythe electric potential at P1.2 for working mode decision. If a zerovoltage is detected at P1.2, for instance, it is interpreted by themicrocontroller 22 as an external control signal for dusk-dawn mode. Themicrocontroller 22 runs in response to the external control signal asubprogram to execute the dusk-dawn mode. At the dusk-dawn mode, themicrocontroller 22 delivers automatically at nightfall through its twopins P0.0 and P1.0 a high voltage to turn on the NMOS transistors M1 andM2, wherein the two relay modules 5 a,5 b are short-circuited totransmit electric power to the two light source load 6 a,6 b such as toperform a full-power illumination; the full-power illumination issustained by a high voltage at the pins P0.0 and P1.0 until daybreakwhen the working voltage VDD is cutoff by the photo sensor 3, whereinthe microcontroller 22 is reset to enter a next operating cycle on adaily basis. The pin RST connected with resistor/capacitor R2/C2 isreserved for power reset when the microcontroller 22 starts its programon next day.

Referring to FIG. 2, the microcontroller 22 with its program codes scansthe electric potential at P1.2 for working mode decision. If a highvoltage is detected at P1.2, for instance, it is interpreted by themicrocontroller as an external control signal for lifestyle mode. Themicrocontroller runs in response to the external control signal asubprogram to execute the lifestyle mode. In the lifestyle mode, themicrocontroller 22 delivers automatically at nightfall through its twopins P0.0 and P1.0 a high voltage to turn on the transistors M1 and M2and also simultaneously the two relay modules 5 a,5 b, wherein the twolight source load 6 a,6 b are turned on to deliver a full-powerillumination; the high voltage at the pins P0.0 and P1.0 is sustainedfor a preset time period controlled by a timer embedded in themicrocontroller 22 until reaching a conversion time point, at which themicrocontroller 22 with the pin P1.0 remaining at a high voltage, forinstance, delivers however a zero voltage to the pin P0.0 to turn offthe NMOS transistor M1 and hence also to turn off the correspondinglight source load 6 a, such that the lighting device 10 has itsluminance changed from a full-power intensity to a lower power intensitywhich is referred as a power-saving illumination; the power-savingillumination continues until daybreak when the working voltage VDD iscutoff by the photo sensor 3, wherein the microcontroller 22 is reset toenter next operating cycle.

As mentioned previously, the lighting device with lifestyle solutions ischaracterized by a proper conversion time point or a proper preset timeperiod for performing full-power illumination catering to user's livinghabits. Referring to FIG. 2, the microcontroller 22 has pins reservedfor connecting with the external control means S22,S23 and 23 to receiveexternal control signals or trigger signals for selecting method to setthe conversion time point or the time period for performing full-powerillumination, wherein the setting is made through configuring a virtualtimer which is based on executing a long delay time subroutine of themicrocontroller program codes or by using auxiliary counter for longtime counting. For the lifestyle mode, the timer in the microcontroller22 can be configured by at least three methods which are:

(1) the anytime setting,

(2) the fixed time point setting, and

(3) the fixed time period setting.

The anytime setting can be done, for instance, in a convenient way bymanually operating a wall switch or a main power switch at any clocktime when the user wants to choose a desired conversion time point, forinstance, going to sleep. Referring to FIG. 2, a main power switch S5connected between the lighting device 10 and an AC power VAC is used todo the anytime setting. To detect the anytime setting, a samplingcircuit 23 consisting of resistors R4 and R5 is connected with one ACpower line, wherein the sampling output is connected to a pin P5.4 ofthe microcontroller 22. When the AC power is shut down by operating themain switch S5, a zero voltage appears at the sampling circuit 23 andhence also at the pin P5.4. In FIG. 2, a large capacitor EC 25 isprovided to hold VDD voltage for keeping the microcontroller 22 still inoperation when the AC power is turned off momentarily. The anytimesetting is accomplished when the user turns off momentarily and within apreset instant time interval, for instance, 1˜2 seconds, turns back onthe power switch S5 at a selected time point. If the microcontroller 22with program codes scans constantly the electric potential at pins anddetects at the pin P5.4 momentarily a zero voltage caused by thiselectric power disruption event, the microcontroller 22 recognizes it asan external trigger signal for the anytime setting. The microcontroller22 reacts at the moment of receiving the trigger signal by promptlyconverting the lighting performance from a full-power illumination to apower-saving illumination and at the same time stores the selected timepoint information into its memory. The time point of the anytime settingserves as a new conversion time point for repetitive performance on adaily basis until another trigger signal or external control signalbeing received by the microcontroller.

Besides the aforementioned electric power disruption method, the anytimesetting can also be done by operating an external control means, forinstance, a toggle switch, which is connected between the ground and apin of the microcontroller, not shown in FIG. 2. The anytime setting istriggered by the user at a desired conversion time point by momentarilyshort-circuiting the toggle switch, wherein a short-duration zerovoltage appears at the pin of the microcontroller. At the moment whenthe user operates the toggle switch for the anytime setting byshort-circuiting it and within a short time restoring it toopen-circuit, the microcontroller 22 with program codes detectstherefore at the pin connected with this toggle switch an instant zerovoltage wherein the microcontroller 22 recognizes it as an externaltrigger signal for the anytime setting and reacts at the time point ofreceiving the trigger signal by promptly converting the lightingperformance to a power-saving illumination and at the same time storesthe selected time point information into its memory for repetitiveperformance on a 24-hours basis, as afore described.

The fixed time point setting is done by engaging an external controlmeans connected to the microcontroller. Referring to FIG. 2, a toggleswitch S23, for instance, serves as an external control means which isconnected between one pin P2.0 of the microcontroller 22 and the ground.The fixed time point setting is selected by short-circuiting the switchS23, wherein a zero voltage appears at the pin P2.0. The microcontroller22 with program codes scans constantly the electric potential at pins.If a zero voltage is detected at the pin P2.0, the microcontroller 22interprets it as an external control signal for the fixed time pointsetting, wherein the microcontroller 22 runs a subroutine of the programcodes to count a time delay t_(D) for performing the full-powerillumination, such that

t _(D) =t _(o)+(T−12)/2,

where t_(o) is a constant in the subroutine, representing one of timelengths selectable to the users as the basis for making seasonal shiftadjustment, T is a mean value of night time lengths collected frommeasurement of at least three consecutive days with the help of photosensor 3 and processed by the program codes of the microcontroller. Thefixed time point setting is valid for repetitively performing thelifestyle mode on a daily basis until other setting method is done byengaging proper external control means.

The fixed time point setting enables the microcontroller with itsprogram codes to counteract the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn soas to dynamically adjust the time length of the preset time period forperforming a full-power illumination. For instance, a three-hour timeperiod is normally preset in the subroutine, for which the constantt_(o)=3. If in spring season with sunset at 6 p.m., then T=12 for thenighttime, the lighting device will be converted to a power-saving orsecurity illumination at 9 p.m. which is a conversion time point withoutbeing affected by the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn. With thefixed time point setting, if in summer season with sunset at 8 p.m.,then T=8 for the nighttime, t_(D)=3+(−2)=1, the lighting device will beconverted to a power-saving or security illumination at 8 p.m.+t_(D)=9p.m.; if in winter season with sunset at 4 p.m., then T=16 for thenighttime, t_(D)=3+(2)=5, the lighting device will be converted to apower-saving or security illumination at 4 p.m.+t_(D)=9 p.m.Consequently, when the timer program of the microcontroller isconfigured to be compliant with seasonal time shift, the conversion timepoint is fixed despite the seasonal daytime variation. This fixed timepoint setting is different from the method used in the prior art U.S.Pat. No. 7,339,471 B1 where the duration of illumination is determinedbased on a predetermined fraction of the recorded length of nighttimefrom previous night and consequently the time point of conversion maychange during different seasons.

The fixed time period setting is done by engaging external control meansconnected to the microcontroller. Referring to FIG. 2, two toggleswitches S22 serves as external control means which are respectivelyconnected to pins P2.1 and P2.2 of the microcontroller 22 and theground, for respectively setting 6-hour (6 H) and 3-hour (3 H) timeperiod. The fixed time period setting is selected by short-circuitingone switch, for instance, the switch 6 H, wherein a zero voltage appearsat the pin P2.1. The microcontroller 22 with program codes scansconstantly the electric potential at pins. If a zero voltage is detectedat the pin P2.1, the microcontroller 22 interprets it as an externalcontrol signal for the fixed time period setting, wherein themicrocontroller 22 runs a subroutine of the program codes to count atime period of 6 hours, such that the full-power illumination continues6 hours before the lighting device 1 being converted to a power-savingillumination. By analogy, if a zero voltage is detected at the pin P2.2when the toggle switch 3 H is short-circuited, the microcontroller 22runs a 3-hour delay time subroutine to enable a full-power illuminationfor 3 hours. The fixed time period setting is valid for repetitivelyperforming the lifestyle mode on a daily basis until other settingmethod is done by engaging proper external control unit.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, when the lighting device 10operates in the lifestyle mode by open-circuiting the mode selectionswitch S21, the illumination of the lighting device 10 is divided by aconversion time point into two stages, with the first stage being afull-power illumination and the second stage being a power-savingillumination. To make the security light versatile, the lighting device10 of the present disclosure furthermore provides four options for thesecond stage energy-saving illumination by modifying the microcontrollerprogram codes to take account additional external control signals whichwill be described as follows.

The four options at the second stage illumination can be done by usingtwo light source loads 6 a, 6 b of different power levels andincorporating with a motion sensor 4. For instance, the load 6 a is ahigh-wattage light source and 6 b is a low-wattage one. In FIG. 2, amotion sensor 4 is connected to the pin P1.3 of the microcontroller 22.In addition, two toggle switches S24, S25 serve as external controlmeans to make four different illumination types selectable by generatingcontrol signals respectively sent to the pins P2.3 and P2.5 of themicrocontroller 22. The external control means S24, S25 can be sodesigned, for instance, S24 controls the coupling between themicrocontroller 22 and the motion sensor 4, and S25 controls theillumination level of the lighting device. As depicted in FIG. 2, when atoggle switch S24, S25 is closed or short-circuited, a zero voltageappears at the corresponding pin which can be recognized and interpretedby the microcontroller 22 as external control signal to execute acorresponding illumination type. By operating the external control meansS24, S25 properly, the microcontroller generates with program codes,either reacting to or disabling the motion sensor 4, a zero or a VDDvoltage at the pins P0.0 and P1.0 respectively to control the luminanceof the two light source loads 6 a, 6 b. The luminance intensity of thelighting device 10 is controlled by the electric voltages at the pinsP0.0 and P1.0, for instance: With zero voltage at both P0.0 and P1.0 isa darkness state(0); with zero voltage at P0.0 and VDD at P1.0 is a lowlevel illumination (L); with VDD at both P0.0 and P1.0 is a high levelor full-power illumination (H).

Referring FIG. 2, incorporating with the external control means S24, S25and the motion sensor 4, the microcontroller 22 runs subroutines inresponse to the external control signals for the second stagepower-saving illumination, which are:

(1) Complete cutoff (0), for instance, by opening both the switch S24and S25, wherein the second stage illumination is darkness (0) bydisabling the motion sensor 4 throughout the rest of nighttime;(2) Low level illumination (L), for instance, by opening the switch S24and by closing the switch S25, wherein the second stage is a low-levelillumination and disabling the motion sensor 4 throughout the rest ofnighttime;(3) Single-level illumination coupled with motion sensor (H,0), forinstance, by closing the switch S24 and by opening the switch S25,wherein the illumination is changed from darkness (0) to ahigh-intensity brightness (H) in response to the motion detectionsignal;(4) Two-level illumination coupled with motion sensor (H,L), forinstance, by closing both the switch S24 and S25, wherein theillumination is changed from a low(L)- to a high(H)-intensity luminancein response to the motion detection signal.

In view of FIG. 2, the light source loads 6 a, 6 b can be incandescentlamps, fluorescent lamps, AC LED modules or LED bulbs which areconnected via relays 5 a, 5 b to an AC power. FIG. 2 depictsschematically a lifestyle lighting device 10 which performs two-levelillumination based on a double-light source load structure comprising alow-wattage and a high-wattage light source load such that thehigh-wattage light source load 6 a is activated by the motion sensor 4and the low-wattage light source load 6 b is automatically turned on andoff by the photo sensor 3. In fact, there is no restriction imposed onthe type and the number of the light source loads. The operationprinciple of a lifestyle lighting device according to FIG. 1 can beequally applied to a single light source load, driven either by DC poweror AC power, wherein the lighting device performs a two-levelillumination at the second stage by dimming technique which will bedescribed as follows.

Referring to FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the lighting device 11 is equipped with a light-emittingdiode (LED) module 36 connected in series with a NMOS transistor M 35and a DC power source. Comparing with the embodiment of the presentdisclosure depicted in FIG. 2, the LED module 36 is a single lightsource load and the transistor M 35 is a unidirectional controllableswitching unit. Besides the difference in light source structure anddriving power source, the lighting devices 11 adopts the same controllerstructure including a photo sensor 3 and a motion sensor 4 as shown inFIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the microcontroller 22′ runs programs in response tothe external control signals or trigger signals generated from theexternal control means S21-S25, 23,S5 in the same manner as describedfor the circuit diagram sketched in FIG. 2.

Refer to FIG. 3. By operating the control unit S21 to select the workingmode, the lighting device 11 performs dusk-dawn mode and lifestyle mode,respectively, through the luminance control of the LED module 36. In thelifestyle mode the lighting device 11 performs the full-powerillumination for a preset time period and is converted into thepower-saving illumination at a conversion time point controlled by adelay timer in the microcontroller 22′. By operating the control meansS22, S23, S5 properly, the delay timer of the microcontroller 22′ isconfigured by one of the three setting methods, which are the anytimesetting, the fixed time point setting and the fixed time period setting,in order to execute the corresponding delay time subroutines.Furthermore, by operating the external control means S24, S25 properly,the lighting device 11 performs the energy-saving or securityillumination at the second stage to generate one of four differentillumination types which are complete darkness, low-power illumination,motion sensor activated single-level and two-level illumination.

Referring to FIG. 3, the NMOS transistor M 35 has its drain connected tothe LED module 36 and its gate connected with one pin P1.0 of themicrocontroller 22′. The microcontroller generates with program codes inresponse to the external control signals a series ofpulse-width-modulation (PWM) signals at the pin P1.0. FIG. 3 arepresents the waveform of a PWM signal which has a low voltage and ahigh voltage within the period T_(o), wherein the high voltage ischaracterized by a time length T₁. The ratio of T₁ to T_(o), namely,T₁/T_(o), is referred to as the duty cycle of the PWM signal. The PWMsignal generated at the pin P1.0 is fed to the control gate of theunidirectional control switch 35, wherein the transistor M 35 is turnedon during the time T₁ by the high voltage such that the conduction rateof the transistor M 35 is controlled by the PWM signal. The duty cycleof the PWM signal determines an average electric power transmitting tothe LED module 36.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the lighting device 11 is in lifestyle modeperforming the second stage illumination, the motion sensor activatedsingle-level illumination is performed by the microcontroller 22′ withprogram codes in response to the motion sensor 4, wherein a PWM signalof the maximum duty cycle is generated at the pin P1.0 and sent to thetransistor M 35 for controlling a maximum average electric powertransmitting to the LED module 36 so as to perform full-powerillumination, and then after a short time period a zero voltage isgenerated at the pin P1.0 to shut down the LED module 36; the motionsensor activated two-level illumination is performed by generating a PWMsignal of the maximum duty cycle for the full-power illumination andthen a PWM signal of small duty cycle for the low-power illumination.

Refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 a. In the lifestyle mode, when the lightingdevice 11 is activated by the motion sensor to perform single-level ortwo-level illuminations, the microcontroller 22′ can be furthercontrolled by an additional external control signal to enter asubroutine to continuously vary the duty cycle of the PWM signal, forinstance by continuously varying the time length T₁ of the PWM signal inFIG. 3 a, for controlling the controllable switching unit 35 to transmita continuously varying average electric power to the light source load36, such that during the varying process the luminance of the lightingdevice 11 increases slowly in intensity until a full-power illumination,what is referred to as soft on, and, after a short time interval, theluminance of the lighting device 11 decreases slowly in intensity to endthe motion sensor activated cycle, what is referred to as soft off.

Refer to FIG. 4. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,the lighting device 12 has a light source load 46 connected in serieswith a triac Tr 45 and an AC power. Comparing with the lighting device11 as depicted in FIG. 3, the triac Tr 45 is a bidirectionalcontrollable switching unit. The light source load 46 can be a halogenlamp, an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, an AC LED module or aLED bulb. Besides the difference in the controllable switching unit 45,the lighting device 12 adopts the same controller structure as shown inFIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the microcontroller 22″ runs programs inresponse to the external control signals or trigger signals generatedfrom the external control means S21-S25, 23, S5 in the same manner asdescribed for the embodiments depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, wherein thelighting device 12 performs respectively dusk-dawn mode and lifestylemode, depending on the external control signal generated from thecontrol means S21.

Referring to FIG. 4, the microcontroller 22″ has a pin P1.0 connected toa control gate of the bidirectional controllable switching unit 45 tocontrol its conduction state for transmitting AC electric power to thelight source load 46. The voltage divider 23, with its output connectedto the pin P5.4 of the microcontroller 22″, can serve both as thesampling circuit for the anytime setting and also as azero-crossing-point detector. The anytime setting is done by operatingthe power switch S5 to generate a zero voltage for a time duration insecond range at the pin P5.4, which is detected by the microcontroller22 and interpreted as the anytime setting signal. As azero-crossing-point detector the microcontroller 22″ receives constantlyat the pin P5.4 a zero-crossing signal in millisecond range synchronizedwith the AC power.

To elucidate the use of the zero-crossing-point detector and theprinciple of controlling the bidirectional controllable switching unit,in accompanying FIG. 4, FIG. 4 a, FIG. 4 b and FIG. 4 c representrespectively the waveforms of (a) AC power signal, (b) the phase-anglecontrol signal at the pin P1.0 and (c) the voltage signal across the twoterminals of the light source load 46. Referring to the waveforms inFIG. 4 a and FIG. 4 b, the microcontroller 22″ detects with the help ofthe zero-crossing-point detector 23 constantly at the pin P5.4 azero-crossing signal, not shown here, in each half period T of thesinusoidal AC power, and generates with its program codes a square wavein FIG. 4 b at the pin P1.0 which is synchronized with the AC power inFIG. 4 a and serves as phase-angle control signal. The square wave inFIG. 4 b has its front edge lagging behind the zero-crossing point ofthe AC power in FIG. 4 a. Referring to the waveforms in FIG. 4 b andFIG. 4 c, the phase-angle control signal at P1.0 triggers at its frontedge the triac 45 into conduction, wherein during the conductive periodof the triac 45 a voltage signal of the duration t_(on) appears at thetwo terminals of the light source load 46 such that an average electricAC power in proportion to the time duration t_(on) is transmitted to thelight source load 46.

Referring to FIG. 4, in conjunction with the zero-crossing-pointdetector 23, the microcontroller 22″ generates in response to theexternal control signals different phase-angle control signals at thepin P1.0 with different time lags behind the zero-crossing point, so asto control different conductive phase angles of the triac Tr 45 torespectively transmit full power, small power and no power to the lightsource load 46, such that the lighting device 12 performs full-powerillumination, low-power illumination and darkness, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 a, FIG. 4 b and FIG. 4 c, when the lightingdevice 12 performs single-level or two-level motion sensor activatedilluminations, the microcontroller 22″ can be further controlled byadditional external control signal to enter a subroutine of the programcodes to slowly change the conductive duration of the controllableswitching unit 45. The microcontroller 22″ with program codes generatesphase-angle control signals in FIG. 4 b with its front edge shiftingcontinuously with time to continuously vary the conductive phase angleof the triac Tr 45, such that a continuously varying AC electric power,which results from a continuously varying conductive duration t_(on) ofthe triac Tr 45, is transmitted to the light source load 46, wherein,during the varying process, the illumination of the lighting device 12increases slowly in brightness till a full-power level (soft on) andafter a short time interval decreases slowly in brightness to end themotion sensor activated cycle (soft off).

The use of PWM signal and phase-angle control signal, as depictedrespectively in FIG. 3 a and in FIG. 4 b, to vary or to dim theluminance of light source load, offers many variations in controllingluminance level of the lifestyle lighting device, which can be donesimply by modifying the program codes of the microcontroller withoutchanging the circuit hardware as disclosed in embodiments depicted inFIGS. 3-4. When the lighting devices performs motion sensor activatedtwo-level illumination, the luminance intensity of the low-powerillumination can be further adjusted by using additional externalcontrol signal to control the microcontroller to run a correspondingsubroutine.

The lighting device according to various embodiments of the presentinvention relies on the operation of external control means to generateexternal control signals. To facilitate the operation of the externalcontrol means, user-oriented construction of the external control meansis required, wherein the external control means can be composed of pushbutton, toggle switch, infrared sensor or similar means which generatesconstant voltage or binary signal with a low and a high voltage readableby the microcontroller and interpreted as the external control signal toexecute a corresponding subprogram in the microcontroller. Furthermore,the binary signal can be a square waveform, for instance, with a smallwidth for low voltage, referred to as short-zero control signal, or witha large width for low voltage, referred to as long-zero control signal.The use of binary signal in form of short-zero and long-zero canfacilitate the selection of different working functions designed in thelighting device.

Based on the operation principle depicted in FIG. 1, there are manypossibilities to implement lifestyle solution. In accompanying FIG. 4,FIG. 5 shows schematically a circuit diagram that is in fact a variationderived from FIG. 4, wherein the photo sensor CDS 3 and the externalcontrol means S21-S25 are removed, with the exception that the mainpower switch S5 is reserved for some technical applications. In FIG. 5,the luminance of the single light source load 46 is basically controlledby different conductive phase angles of the triac Tr 45 with method asdescribed for the circuit diagram in FIG. 4. Comparing with the circuitof FIG. 4, the circuit depicted in FIG. 5 has some features deserved tobe mentioned here. Referring to FIG. 5, the lighting device 13 can be soconstructed that it has a microcontroller 22″a with program codes tocontrol its illumination, for instance, to perform a generalillumination mode and a lifestyle mode respectively by operating thepower switch S5. The general lighting mode is related to a usual on/offoperation of the switch S5, such that with the switch S5 being turnedon, the lighting device 13 illuminates with full power; while with theswitch S5 being turned off, the lighting device 13 shuts off completely.To be distinguishable from the general illumination mode, the lifestylemode is selected, for instance, by momentary turning off and turningback on the switch S5 within a preset instant time period, such as 1-2seconds. If the microcontroller 22″a with program codes detects thison-off-on operation sequence through the pin P5.4 connected to thevoltage divider 23, the microcontroller 22″a runs a correspondingsubroutine for performing the lifestyle mode, wherein the lightingdevice 13 performs a full-power illumination for a short time period,for instance, a period of five minutes, and then is converted to asingle-level or a two-level illumination activated by the motion sensor4. The simple circuit construction in FIG. 5 eliminates timer settingsand various functional selections.

The lighting device 13, as depicted in FIG. 5, can be used for generalillumination in house. It is even more favorable to design the lifestylemode by combining the aforementioned soft on and soft off techniques tothe single-level or two-level illumination activated by motion sensor.With such a lighting device 13, the house owner before sleeping cansimply operate the wall switch S5 by on-off-on actions to select thelifestyle mode; the lighting device 13 illuminates with full power for ashort time period and then enters a standby power-saving status to awaitthe detection signal from the motion sensor 4. If the house owner wakesup sometimes in the middle of the night, the soft on illuminationactivated by the motion sensor 4, wherein, instead of a sudden glaringbrightness, the luminance intensity of the lighting device increasesgradually, can make him feeling comfortable as he moves through a darkspace. The lighting device is automatically turned off softly orswitched gradually to a low level illumination after the house ownergoes back to sleep. The circuit sketched in FIG. 5 provides therefore asimple and practical lifestyle solution without the use of photo sensor.

To make the lighting device of the present invention even more userfriendly, additional lifestyle solution is provided for different timeor on different occasions. A preferable solution is for example to builda multi-mode lighting device to perform two or three working modesmerging into one single lighting device based on microcontrollertechnology, wherein the user can select one of the multi-modes forperformance by using an external control signal to alternately changethe working mode or using external control signals of different binarypatterns to activate corresponding working modes. The multi-modes alwaysincludes a basic general illumination mode (with or without photosensor) coupled with the above mentioned lifestyle security modes foruser's selection.

To extend the lifestyle solutions based on the circuit diagram depictedin FIG. 5, in which the lighting device 13 consists of a motion sensor4, a microcontroller 22″a and a plurality of external control means notshown in FIG. 5, the program codes of the microcontroller 22″a can befurther modified to realize the automatic on/off function of the photosensor such that the lighting device 13 is automatically turned on atdusk and turned off at dawn by the program codes of the microcontroller22″a, wherein during the course of nighttime the lighting device 13 hasat least two working modes selectable by the users. In order to performthe aforementioned lifestyle mode without using photo sensor, an initialsetting process is taken by the users to input at least three timeparameters, namely a first preset time point to turn on the lightingdevice for a full-power illumination, a second preset time point toconvert to a power-saving/security illumination which is activated bythe motion sensor and a third preset time point to turn off the lightingdevice and at the same time to reset the microcontroller for the next24-hour performance cycle. The users based on their living habitsoperate corresponding external control means to generate at least threetriggering signals to the microcontroller respectively at three timepoints representing the time to turn on for a full-power illumination,the time to convert to a power-saving illumination and the time to turnoff the lighting device. Upon receiving the three triggering signalsgenerated by the users, the microcontroller with program codes is ableto store the time point information and thereby establish the workingprocedures to perform the lifestyle illumination mode on a 24-hourrepetitive basis until new triggering signals are given by the user tochange the time point parameters to establish a new lifestyleillumination mode. Such lifestyle mode without reliance on a photosensor enables the users to manage their time table of lightingperformance for both indoor and outdoor applications in a more flexible,more friendly and more energy saving ways.

The automatic on/off lighting device control based on the program codesof the microcontroller also helps to improve home security from theperspective of antitheft consideration. When the home owners are awayfor business trip or vacation for a longer period of time, say a week,if the houses are always dark or lit during the night time, forinstance, the lighting device is automatically turned on and turned offby a photo sensor, it gives the intruder or thief a strong signal thatthe owners are out for a long trip and it is a good time to break in. Onthe contrary, the use of microcontroller to replace photo sensor forlighting control offers great flexibility to program a dynamically timedillumination, for instance, by adding an instant drop of illuminationfollowed by a shorter time period of full-power illumination, say 1 to10 minutes, till the second preset time point of conversion at which thelighting device being switched to a power-saving illumination. Thetemporary drop of illumination for a couple seconds serves as remindsignal telling the users it is time to rest and the short extension offull illumination simply gives the user ample time to wrap up forsleeping. If the user wants to manage the third preset time pointprecisely according to his or her living need, the above initial settingprocess for inputting three preset time points is needed. However from apractical consideration and given the fact that human being living habitis used to 6-8 hours sleep it may just be good enough to build into theprogram codes with an eight hours time delay to perform the energysaving/security mode on an automatic basis. Thus, after 8 hours from thesecond preset time point for conversion of power-saving illumination, oralternatively 12 hours from the power on time point, the microcontrollerwith program codes will turn off the light and reset for the nextoperating cycle.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferredembodiments of the present invention; however, the characteristics ofthe present invention are by no means restricted thereto. All changes,alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilledin the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the presentinvention delineated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting device for night illuminationcomprising: a controllable switching unit, electrically connectedbetween at least one light source load and a power switch in series witha power source; a photo sensor, for automatically enabling the operationof the lighting device at nightfall and disabling the device operationat daybreak; a motion sensor, for detecting a body motion; a pluralityof external control means, generating external control signals forselecting and setting the operation functions of the lighting device;and a microcontroller, electrically connected to the controllableswitching unit, the external control means and the motion sensor,wherein the microcontroller controls the conduction state of thecontrollable switching unit to transmit electric power to the lightsource load; wherein the microcontroller with program codes operates inresponse to external control signals from the external control means insuch a manner to select and perform one of two working modes; whereinthe first working mode is a dusk-dawn mode, in which the lighting deviceis automatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensor with a full-powerillumination, and the same full-power illumination continues until thelighting device is turned off at dawn by the photo sensor, and themicrocontroller is reset to enter the next operating cycle; wherein thesecond working mode is a lifestyle mode, in which the lighting device isautomatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensor to perform afull-power illumination for a time period t_(D) counted by a timerembedded in the microcontroller, and upon the timer ending count thelighting device is then converted to a motion sensor activatedillumination, in which the lighting device is normally at a standbystatus with non or low-power illumination and is switched to illuminatewith full power for a short time interval only when the body motion isdetected by the motion sensor; wherein the lifestyle mode ends atdaybreak when the lighting device is turned off by the photo sensor, andthe microcontroller is reset to enter the next operating cycle.
 2. Thelighting device according to claim 1, wherein in the lifestyle mode thetimer embedded in the microcontroller is configured by at least threemethods, which are: the anytime setting, in which the user selects atime point for the lighting device by giving a trigger signal to themicrocontroller, wherein the microcontroller recognizes the triggersignal and reacts at the moment of the selected time point by promptlyconverting the light performance from a full-power illumination to amotion sensor activated or a power-saving illumination, and at the sametime stores this selected time point information in its memory forrepetitive performance at this selected time point on a daily basisuntil another trigger signal being received by the microcontroller; thefixed time point setting, in which the timer is programmed to be capableof tracing the nighttime shift due to seasonal effect wherein the timerof the microcontroller dynamically controls the duration of thefull-power illumination synchronous to the seasonal shift so that thelighting device can switch by itself at a fixed time point from thefull-power illumination to the motion sensor activated or thepower-saving illumination; the fixed time period setting, in which thetimer has a fixed time count so that the lighting device illuminateswith full power for a constant duration t_(D) before converted to themotion sensor activated or the power-saving illumination.
 3. Thelighting device according to claim 2, wherein in order to accomplish theanytime setting the user turns off momentarily and turns back on thepower switch of the lighting device at the selected time point, suchthat the microcontroller with program codes detects this electric powerinstant OFF-ON event and interprets it as an external trigger signal forthe anytime setting and at the same time stores the selected time pointfor repetitive performance on a daily basis.
 4. The lighting deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein a toggle switch or similar means asexternal control means is further connected to a pin of themicrocontroller for generating a constant voltage signal byshort-circuiting the toggle switch which is interpreted by the programcodes of the microcontroller as the external control signal for thefixed time point setting.
 5. The lighting device according to claim 2,wherein toggle switches or similar means as external control means arefurther connected to pins of the microcontroller for generating aconstant voltage signal by short-circuiting the toggle switch whichserves as the external control signal to configure the fixed time periodsetting, in which the timer of the microcontroller is set to run aconstant time count of duration tD selected through short-circuiting thecorresponding toggle switch.
 6. The lighting device according to claim4, wherein in the lifestyle mode the timer of the microcontroller isconfigured to run a time delay t_(D) for full-power illumination, suchthatt _(D) =t _(o)+(T−12)/2, where t_(o) is a constant in the program codes,representing one of the time lengths selectable to the users as thebasis for making seasonal shift adjustment, T is a mean value ofnighttime lengths collected from measurement of at least threeconsecutive days with the help of the photo sensor and processed by theprogram codes of the microcontroller.
 7. The lighting device accordingto claim 1, wherein the lighting device further comprises two lightsource loads displaying luminance of a high-level and a low-levelelectric power, respectively.
 8. The lighting device according to claim7, wherein in the lifestyle mode the lighting device performs the motionsensor activated illumination with two alternatives selectable bysending control signal to the microcontroller, which are thesingle-level and two-level illuminations, wherein the single-levelillumination means that the lighting device is activated by the motionsensor displaying a full-power illumination by turning on both lightsource loads for a short time interval and then turning off bothcompletely; wherein the two-level illumination means that the lightingdevice is activated by the motion sensor firstly to display a full-powerillumination by turning on both light load sources for a short timeinterval and then switched to a low-power illumination by keeping ononly the light source load of low-level electric power and turning offthe light source load of high-level electric power, and the lightingdevice stays at low-level illumination until the next motion sensingevent or daybreak.
 9. The lighting device according to claim 1, whereinthe light source loads are light-emitting diodes, halogen lamps,fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps.
 10. The lighting deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the controllable switching unit is anunidirectional control switch (MOSFET) electrically connected to atleast one light-emitting diode module as the light source load forillumination and a DC power source as the power source, wherein theunidirectional control switch has its control gate connected to a pin ofthe microcontroller, in such a manner that the microcontroller withprogram codes generates and sends pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal tothe control gate of the unidirectional control switch to control itsconduction state to transmit an average electric power to thelight-emitting diode module; wherein the microcontroller with programcodes operates in response to control signals from the external controlmeans in such a manner to select and perform either the dusk-dawn modeor the lifestyle mode, wherein in the lifestyle mode the timerassociated with the microcontroller is configured according to claim 2.11. The lighting device according to claim 10, wherein in the lifestylemode the lighting device performs the motion sensor activatedillumination with two alternatives selectable by sending control signalto the microcontroller, which are single-level and two-levelilluminations, wherein in the single-level illumination the lightingdevice is activated by the motion sensor to perform full-powerillumination for a short time interval through adjusting the duty cycleof PWM signal to transmit a maximum average electric power to thelight-emitting diode module and then setting the PWM signal to be zerovoltage for turning off the lighting device completely; wherein in thetwo-level illumination the lighting device is activated by the motionsensor to perform firstly full-power illumination for a short timeinterval by adjusting the largest duty cycle of PWM signal and then isswitched to perform low-power illumination by adjusting the duty cycleof PWM signal to transmit a low-level average electric power to thelight-emitting diode module, and the lighting device stays at low-powerillumination until the next motion sensing event or daybreak.
 12. Thelighting device according to claim 10, wherein in the lifestyle modewhen the lighting device is activated by the motion sensor to performsingle-level or two-level illuminations, the microcontroller is furthercontrolled to enter a program subroutine to continuously vary the dutycycle of PWM signal for controlling the controllable switching unit totransmit a continuously varying average electric power to the lightsource load, such that during the switch process the illumination of thelighting device increases slowly in brightness until the full-powerillumination (soft on), and after a short time interval decreases slowlyin brightness from the full-power illumination (soft off) to end themotion sensor activated cycle.
 13. A lighting device for nightillumination comprising: a controllable switching unit, electricallyconnected between at least one light source load and a power switch inseries with a power source; a photo sensor, for automatically enablingthe operation of the lighting device at nightfall and disabling thedevice operation at daybreak; a plurality of external control means,generating external control signals for selecting and setting theoperation functions of the lighting device; and a microcontroller,electrically connected to the controllable switching unit and theexternal control means, wherein the microcontroller controls theconduction state of the controllable switching unit to transmit electricpower to the light source load; wherein the microcontroller with programcodes operates in response to external control signals from the externalcontrol means in such a manner to select and perform one of two workingmodes; wherein the first working mode is a dusk-dawn mode, in which thelighting device is automatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensorwith a full-power illumination, and the same full-power illuminationcontinues until the lighting device is turned off at dawn by the photosensor, and the microcontroller is reset to enter the next operatingcycle; wherein the second working mode is a lifestyle mode, in which thelighting device is automatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensorto perform a full-power illumination for a time period t_(D) counted bya timer embedded in the microcontroller, and upon the timer ending countthe lighting device is then converted to perform a power-savingillumination, in which two options are selectable such that the lightingdevice is either turned off completely or is switched to performlow-power illumination until daybreak when the lighting device is turnedoff by the photo sensor, and the microcontroller is reset to enter thenext operating cycle.
 14. The lighting device according to claim 13,wherein in the lifestyle mode the timer embedded in the microcontrolleris configured by at least three methods, which are: the anytime setting,in which the user selects a time point for the lighting device by givinga trigger signal to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontrollerrecognizes the trigger signal and reacts at the moment of the selectedtime point by promptly converting the light performance from afull-power illumination to a power-saving illumination, and at the sametime stores this selected time point information in its memory forrepetitive performance at this selected time point on a daily basisuntil another trigger signal being received by the microcontroller; thefixed time point setting, in which the timer is programmed to be capableof tracing the nighttime shift due to seasonal effect wherein the timerof the microcontroller dynamically controls the duration of thefull-power illumination synchronous to the seasonal shift so that thelighting device can switch by itself at a fixed time point from thefull-power illumination to the power-saving illumination; the fixed timeperiod setting, in which the timer has a fixed time count so that thelighting device illuminates with full power for a constant durationt_(D) before converted to the power-saving illumination.
 15. Thelighting device according to claim 14, wherein in order to accomplishthe anytime setting the user turns off momentarily and turns back on thepower switch of the lighting device at the selected time point, suchthat the microcontroller with program codes detects this electric powerinstant OFF-ON event and interprets it as an external trigger signal forthe anytime setting and at the same time stores the selected time pointfor repetitive performance on a daily basis.
 16. The lighting deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein a toggle switch or similar means asexternal control means is further connected to a pin of themicrocontroller for generating a constant voltage signal byshort-circuiting the toggle switch which is interpreted by the programcodes of the microcontroller as the external control signal for thefixed time point setting.
 17. The lighting device according to claim 14,wherein toggle switches or similar means as external control means arefurther connected to pins of the microcontroller for generating aconstant voltage signal by short-circuiting the toggle switch whichserves as the external control signal to configure the fixed time periodsetting, in which the timer of the microcontroller is set to run aconstant time count of duration t_(D) selected through short-circuitingthe corresponding toggle switch.
 18. The lighting device according toclaim 16, wherein in the lifestyle mode the timer of the microcontrolleris configured to run a time delay t_(D) for full-power illumination,such thatt _(D) =t _(o)+(T−12)/2, where t_(o) is a constant in the program codes,representing one of the time lengths selectable to the users as thebasis for making seasonal shift adjustment, T is a mean value ofnighttime lengths collected from measurement of at least threeconsecutive days with the help of the photo sensor and processed by theprogram codes of the microcontroller.
 19. The lighting device accordingto claim 13, wherein the lighting device further comprises two lightsource loads displaying luminance of a high-level and a low-levelelectric power, respectively.
 20. The lighting device according to claim19, wherein in the dusk-dawn mode and lifestyle mode the lighting deviceperforms full-power illumination by turning on both light source loads;wherein in the lifestyle mode the lighting device perform power-savingillumination controlled by the program codes of the microcontrollereither by turning on only the light source load of low-level electricpower for low-power illumination or by turning off both light sourceloads for complete cutoff.
 21. The lighting device according to claim 13wherein the light source loads are light-emitting diodes, halogen lamps,fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps.
 22. A lighting device for nightillumination comprising: a light source load; a controllable switchingunit, electrically connected between the light source load and a powerswitch in series with an AC power source; a zero-crossing-point detectorconnected via the power switch to the AC power; a photo sensor, forautomatically enabling the operation of the lighting device at nightfalland disabling the device operation at daybreak; a motion sensor, fordetecting a body motion; a plurality of external control means,generating external control signals for selecting and setting theoperation functions of the lighting device; and a microcontroller,electrically connected to the controllable switching unit, thezero-crossing-point detector, the external control means and the motionsensor, wherein the microcontroller in conjunction with thezero-crossing-point detector controls the conduction state of thecontrollable switching unit to transmit an AC electric power to thelight source load; wherein the microcontroller with program codesoperates in response to external control signals from the externalcontrol means in such a manner to select and perform one of two workingmodes; wherein the first working mode is a dusk-dawn mode, in which thelighting device is automatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensorwith a full-power illumination until the lighting device is turned offat dawn by the photo sensor, and the microcontroller is reset to enterthe next operating cycle; wherein the second working mode is a lifestylemode, in which the lighting device is automatically turned on at dusk bythe photo sensor to perform a full-power illumination for a time periodt_(D) counted by a timer associated with the microcontroller, and uponthe timer ending count the lighting device is then converted to a motionsensor activated illumination, in which the lighting device is turned onto perform full-power illumination for a short time interval when thebody motion is detected by the motion sensor; the lifestyle mode ends atdaybreak when the lighting device is turned off by the photo sensor, andthe microcontroller is reset to enter the next operating cycle.
 23. Thelighting device according to claim 22, wherein in the lifesyle mode thetimer associated with the microcontroller is configured according toclaim
 2. 24. The lighting device according to claim 22, wherein thecontrollable switching unit is a bidirectional control switch (triac)with its control gate coupled to one control pin of the microcontroller.25. The lighting device according to claim 22, wherein the light sourceload is an AC light-emitting diode module, halogen lamp, incandescentlamp, fluorescent lamp or a DC light-emitting diode module bridging oneport of a full-wave bridge rectifier.
 26. The lighting device accordingto claim 22, wherein in the lifestyle mode the lighting device performsthe motion sensor activated illumination with two alternatives, whichare single-level and two-level illuminations, wherein in thesingle-level illumination the lighting device is activated by the motionsensor to perform full-power illumination for a short time interval andis then switched to complete darkness until the next motion sensingevent; wherein in the two-level illumination the lighting device isactivated by the motion sensor to perform firstly full-powerillumination for a short time interval and is then switched to low-powerillumination, and the lighting device stays at low-level illuminationuntil the next motion sensing event or daybreak, wherein each type ofillumination is selected by using control signal to command themicrocontroller entering corresponding program subroutines to controlthe conduction state of the controllable switching unit to transmitrespectively a full-, a partial- or a zero-AC electric power to thelight source load.
 27. The lighting device according to claim 26,wherein in the lifestyle mode when the lighting device is activated bythe motion sensor, the microcontroller is further triggered to enter aprogram subroutine to control the controllable switching unit totransmit a continuously varying AC electric power to the light sourceload, such that during the varying process the illumination of thelighting device increases slowly in brightness until the full-powerlevel (soft on) and after a short time interval decreases slowly inbrightness from the full-power level (soft off) to end the motion sensoractivated cycle.
 28. The lighting device according to claim 27, whereinin the lifestyle mode when the lighting device is activated by themotion sensor to perform the two-level illumination, the brightness ofthe low-level illumination is adjustable by sending an external controlsignal to the microcontroller to run a corresponding program subroutine.29. The lighting device according to claim 22, wherein the externalcontrol means are composed of push button, toggle switch, infraredsensor or similar means that generates binary signal with a zero or ahigh electric voltage interpreted by the microcontroller as the externalcontrol signal for operating the lighting device.
 30. A lighting devicefor night illumination comprising: a controllable switching unit,electrically connected between at least one light source load forillumination and a power switch in series with a power source; a photosensor, for automatically enabling the operation of the lighting deviceat nightfall and disabling the device operation at daybreak; a motionsensor, for detecting a body motion; a plurality of external controlmeans, generating external control signals for operating the lightingdevice; and a microcontroller, electrically connected to thecontrollable switching unit, the external control means and the motionsensor, wherein the microcontroller controls the conduction state of thecontrollable switching unit to transmit electric power to the lightsource load; wherein the microcontroller with program codes operates inresponse to external control signals from the external control means insuch a manner to select and perform one of three different workingmodes; wherein the first working mode is a dusk-dawn mode with operationpattern according to claim 1; wherein the second working mode is asingle-level security light mode, in which the lighting device isautomatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensor to perform afull-power illumination for a time period t_(D) counted by a timerassociated with the microcontroller, and upon the timer ending count thelighting device is then converted to a motion sensor activated securityillumination, in which the lighting device is turned on to performfull-power illumination for a short time interval only when the bodymotion is detected by the motion sensor and is then turned offcompletely, the single-level security light mode ends at dawn by thephoto sensor, and the microcontroller is reset to enter the nextoperating cycle; wherein the third working mode is a two-level securitylight mode, in which the lighting device is automatically turned on atdusk by the photo sensor to perform a full-power illumination for a timeperiod t_(D) counted by a timer of the microcontroller, and upon thetimer ending count the lighting device is then converted to a motionsensor activated security illumination, in which the lighting device isturned on to perform full-power illumination for a short time intervalonly when a body motion is detected by the motion sensor and is thenswitched to perform low-level illumination, the two-level security lightmode ends at dawn by the photo sensor, and the microcontroller is resetto enter the next operating cycle.
 31. The lighting device according toclaim 30, wherein in the single-level security light mode and thetwo-level security light mode the timer associated with themicrocontroller is configured respectively according to claim 2 to countdifferent time period t_(D) for the full-power illumination beforeconverted into the motion sensor activated security illumination. 32.The lighting device according to claim 30, wherein the external controlmeans is constructed from a push button, a toggle switch, an infraredsensor or similar means that generates instant binary signal with a lowelectric voltage within a preset time interval (short-zero) interpretedby the microcontroller as the external control signal for selectingdifferent working mode, wherein the control signal with a singleshort-zero selects the single-level security light mode, the controlsignal with two consecutive short-zeros selects the two-level securitylight mode and the control signal with a low electric voltage longerthan the preset time (long-zero) selects the dusk-dawn mode.
 33. Alighting device for night illumination comprising: a controllableswitching unit, electrically connected between at least one light sourceload for illumination and a power switch in series with a power source;a photo sensor, for automatically enabling the operation of the lightingdevice at nightfall and disabling the device operation at daybreak; amotion sensor, for detecting a body motion; a plurality of externalcontrol means, generating external control signals for operating thelighting device; and a microcontroller, electrically connected to thecontrollable switching unit, the external control means and the motionsensor, wherein the microcontroller controls the conduction state of thecontrollable switching unit to transmit electric power to the lightsource load; wherein the microcontroller with program codes operates inresponse to external control signals generated from the external controlmeans in such a manner to select and perform one of three differentworking modes; wherein the first working mode is a dusk-dawn mode withfull-power illumination through the whole night time; wherein the secondworking mode is a 3-H mode, in which the lighting device isautomatically turned on at dusk by the photo sensor to performfull-power illumination for a time period of three hours counted by atimer associated with the microcontroller, and upon the timer endingcount the lighting device is then converted to a power-savingillumination, in which the lighting device has four options furtherselectable by the microcontroller to display respectively nonillumination, low-level illumination, motion sensor activated/securitysingle-level and two-level illuminations, the power-saving illuminationends at dawn by the photo sensor with the microcontroller being reset toenter the next operating cycle; wherein the third working mode is a 6-Hmode, in which the lighting device is automatically turned on at dusk bythe photo sensor to perform a full-power illumination for a time periodof six hours counted by a timer associated with the microcontroller, andupon the timer ending count the lighting device is then converted to apower saving illumination which follows the same operation pattern asthe 3-H mode.
 34. The lighting device according to claim 33, wherein theexternal control means is constructed from a push button, a toggleswitch, an infrared sensor or similar means that generates instantbinary signal with a low electric voltage within a preset time interval(short-zero) interpreted by the microcontroller as the external controlsignal for selecting different working mode, wherein the control signalwith a single short-zero selects the 3-H mode, the control signal withtwo consecutive short-zeros selects the 6-H mode and the control signalwith a low electric voltage longer than the preset time (long-zero)selects the dusk-dawn mode.
 35. A lighting device for night illuminationcomprising: a light source load; a controllable switching unit,electrically connected between the light source load and a power switchin series with an AC power source; a motion sensor, for detecting a bodymotion; a zero-crossing-point detector, connected via the power switchto the AC power source for sampling voltage signal; and amicrocontroller, electrically connected to the controllable switchingunit, the motion sensor and the zero-crossing-point detector wherein themicrocontroller controls the conduction state of the controllableswitching unit to transmit electric power to the light source load;wherein the microcontroller with program codes operates in responseexclusively to the operation of the power switch to select and performone of at least two different working modes; wherein the first workingmode is selected at the moment when the power switch is manually turnedon, the lighting device is enabled to perform illumination according toa subroutine of the program codes written in the microcontroller untilthe power switch is manually turned off to end the first working mode,the lighting device is then disabled to shut off; wherein at least thesecond working mode is a lifestyle mode, which is selected by manuallyturning on and off momentarily and turning back on the power switchwithin a preset instant time period such that the microcontrollerrecognizes this electric power disruption event and runs with programcodes a subroutine to perform the lifestyle illumination, wherein thelighting device performs two-stage illumination, with the first stagebeing a full-power illumination for a fixed time period and the secondstage being a power-saving illumination activated by the motion sensor,the lifestyle mode continues until the power switch is manually turnedoff, the lighting device shuts off and the microcontroller is reset toenter the next operating cycle.
 36. The lighting device according toclaim 35, wherein the first working mode is controlled by a subroutineof the program codes written in the microcontroller to perform asecurity illumination in which, when the power switch is manually turnedon, the lighting device is normally at a standby status with non or alow-power illumination according to the subroutine of themicrocontroller, and only when a body motion is detected by the motionsensor the lighting device is activated to illuminate with full powerfor a short time period; the first working mode with a securityillumination ends when the power switch is manually turned off.
 37. Thelighting device according to claim 35, wherein the first working mode iscontrolled by a subroutine of the program codes written in themicrocontroller to perform a general illumination in which, when thepower switch is manually turned on, the lighting device illuminatesconstantly with full power until the power switch is manually turned offto end the first working mode with a general illumination.
 38. Thelighting device according to claim 35, wherein the lifestyle mode ischaracterized by a single-level illumination at the second stage,wherein at the second stage the lighting device enters a standby statuswith complete cutoff state until it is activated by the motion sensor,wherein the illumination of the lighting device increases in luminancegradually from zero until a full-power intensity (soft on), and after ashort time interval decreases gradually in luminance from the full-powerintensity back to zero intensity, to end the motion sensor activatedcycle (soft off).
 39. The lighting device according to claim 35, whereinthe lifestyle mode is characterized by a two-level illumination at thesecond stage, wherein at the second stage the lighting device enters astandby status with a low-power illumination till it is activated by themotion sensor, wherein the illumination of the lighting device increasesin luminance gradually from the low-power intensity till a full-powerintensity, and after a short time interval decreases slowly in luminancefrom the full-power intensity back to the low-power intensity, to endthe motion sensor activated cycle.
 40. A lighting device for night timeillumination comprising; a light source load; a controllable switchingunit, electrically connected between the light source load and a powerswitch in series with a power source; a motion sensor, for detectingbody intrusion to activate the light source load; a plurality ofexternal control means, generating external control signals forselecting and setting the operation function of the lighting device; anda microcontroller, electrically connected to the controllable switchingunit, the motion sensor and the external control means wherein themicrocontroller controls the conduction state of the controllableswitching unit to transmit electric power to the light source load;wherein the microcontroller with program codes operates in response tothe external control signals from the external control means to selectand perform one of two working modes; wherein the first working mode isa general illumination mode selected by a corresponding external controlsignal to perform a full power illumination till the power switch ismanually switched off, the lighting device is turned off and themicrocontroller is reset to enter the next operating cycle; wherein thesecond working mode is a lifestyle mode selected also by a correspondingexternal control signal, in which the microcontroller recognizes theexternal control signal and runs a subroutine of program codes toperform illumination featured with three different preset time points,wherein at a first preset time point the lighting device isautomatically turned on by the program codes of the microcontroller toperform a full-power illumination till reaching a second preset timepoint, at which the lighting device is converted to a motion sensoractivated power-saving/security illumination till reaching a thirdpreset time point, at which the lighting device is turned offautomatically by the program codes of the microcontroller and themicrocontroller is reset to be ready for the next 24 hours operatingcycle.
 41. The lighting device according to claim 40, wherein theexternal control means is constructed from a push button, a toggleswitch, an infrared sensor or similar means that generates instantbinary signal with a low or zero electric voltage within or longer thana preset time interval, which is respectively referred to as short-zeroor long-zero signal, interpreted by the microcontroller as the externalcontrol signal for selecting different working mode, wherein theshort-zero signal selects the lifestyle mode and the long-zero signalselects the general illumination mode.
 42. The lighting device accordingto claim 40, wherein the external control means is constructed from apush button, a toggle switch, an infrared sensor or similar means thatgenerates electric voltages referred to as the external control signalsfor the users to input numerical values for adjusting the threedifferent preset time points, namely, the first time point to turn thelight on with full-power illumination, the second time point to convertfrom full-power illumination to power-saving/security illumination andthe third time point to turn the light off. The microcontroller is resetat the third time point for the next 24 hours operating cycle.
 43. Thelighting device according to claim 42, wherein the setting of the thirdpreset time point can be replaced with an automatic method using eithera 12-hour time delay counting from the first preset time point or an8-hour time delay counting from the second preset time point.